Beer is new McKesson CFO

McKesson Corporation has announced that James A. Beer will be the new executive vice president and chief financial officer starting Oct. 9.

He will oversee all financial functions for McKesson. He was previously at Symantec Corporation as the executive vice president and CFO. He also has been the chief financial officer of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, AMR's principal subsidiary. In his 15 years at American Airlines, Beer held a variety of management positions in finance and operations, including leading the airline's European and Asia Pacific businesses, according to McKesson's announcement.

Beer replaces Jeff C. Campbell, who left over the summer to become the CFO of American Express Company.

He has a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College, London University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.